Interesting but why would I want to add a piece of software to download
MPC files that I would only use in Guide?

I simply open my browser and access the MPC site, download the files of
interest and use them in Guide.

If something fails who provides support Bill or arksky?

For someone planning to play a lot with asteroids, useful software which
can be combined with Guide for observation.

For the casual user or beginner, avoid extra software and keep it
simple. Download MPC file, open Guide and point to file, use Guide to
search for specific asteroid, voila!

Denis

On 04/02/2013 4:24 PM, P. Clay Sherrod wrote:
> A much easier solution is our MPECsort program from Arkansas Sky Observatories:
> http://www.arksky.org/
> Simply click on the MPEC banner and download as instructed.
>
> It can even loads current comets, asteroids, NEOs automatically into your Guide
> folder.
>
> It is being used by thousands of observers worldwide to much success. I do not
> know why Bill does not promote this link; it is supported daily by tabular
> updates at the MPC and links to it are provided there.
>
> Dr. Clay
> _____
> Arkansas Sky Observatories
> MPC H45 - Petit Jean Mountain South
> MPC H41 - Petit Jean Mountain
> MPC H43 - Conway West
> http://www.arksky.org/
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Denis" <boucherd@...>
> To: "Guide-user" <guide-user@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Monday, February 04, 2013 5:10 PM
> Subject: [guide-user] MPC
>
>
>> Bill,
>>
>> I think you might make this more complicated then needed.
>>
>> Most people dealing with asteroid files other than the ones part of
>> Guide are aware how to download the MPC files.
>>
>> Yes make the Comet update available as it is in Guide format.
>>
>> Here my feel on this,
>>
>> in Extras..
>>
>> 1. button "Update Comets" - this will download the comet file and
>> update Guide.
>> 2. checkbox "Display MPC Asteroid"
>> 3. button "Select MPC Asteroid File"
>>
>> action 1. - if user select checkbox "Display MPC Asteroid" to true,
>> button "Select MPC Asteroid File" is enabled and Guide asteroids are
>> turn off.
>> action 2. - if user select checkbox "Display MPC Asteroid" to false,
>> button "Select MPC Asteroid File" is disabled and Guide asteroids are
>> turn on.
>>
>> Guide retains the selections on shutdown.
>> On start if Guide, with "action 1" above active, does not find MPC file
>> then Guide displays nothing.
>> if action 2 on start and Guide Asteroids not installed, Guide displays
>> nothing.
>>
>> To summarize, we have 2 choices, first one is to display Guide asteroids
>> from the DVD if installed or access from the DVD.
>> The second option is to use MPC asteroids from a downloaded file of our
>> choice (MPC format).
>> No other asteroids except those in the selected MPC file are displayed
>> in Guide.
>>
>> As for rebuilding the asteroid cache, I don't mind waiting a few seconds
>> to rebuild the cache when a large MPC file is selected , i.e. "MPCORB.DAT".
>>
>> Other comments welcome,
>>
>>
>> Denis
>>
>>
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